Ekpenyong gave the advice on Friday in Calabar while commemorating the seventh International Day of Women and Girls in Science.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the UN observes Feb. 11 every year as the Day of Women and Girls in Science.
This is to promote the participation of women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.
It also aims to raise awareness about the contribution of women and girls in the field of science and technology.
The theme for the 2022 observance is: “equity, diversity and inclusion: water unites us.’’
Ekpenyong said that girls should not allow culture and family backgrounds to deter them from venturing into sciences and encouraged them to think beyond whatever place they found themselves.
She noted that many women had gone into various fields of science and had made amazing discoveries that had affected the world positively.
“Venturing into sciences is not only a man’s world; do not allow even your culture or family beliefs to limit you.
“It is through science that the world has been able to fight pandemics and other diseases; so, why won’t you want to contribute in positively transforming the world?
“We have gone past the era where as a girl you wait for people to give you an opportunity. Rather, it is time for you to take up the opportunities yourselves,’’ she said.
Ekpenyong also charged parents to stop prioritising the education of the male child over that of the girl child.
She added that it was time to get more girls educated, especially in the sciences.
Ekpenyong also charged girls to drop the fear that they might get too old and would not get suitors if they went into the sciences.
